Negotiating tips needed

Just an idea or two that we used from our wedding to keep those costs down.

We did have drinks and canapes served after our ceremony, but this replaced our starter - no-one really needs canapes and then a full 3 course meal?

I wouldn't bother trying to negotiate to include breakfast...after all if you're paying to put everyone up, surely they can pay for their own brekkie?

Sorry if that's not terribly helpful but it's probably 2 good ways to keep within budget?

You're paying for bedrooms for the guests?? If so then I see an obvious way of cutting costs. If guests want to stay over they can pay (and this comes from me who is getting married somewhere where everyone single guest will need to travel and stay over).

I don't think you'll get anything off your dessert price by omitting the biscuit!

My advice is to go to the meeting and say "the costs at present are coming out above our budget. Is there anything you can do to help?". They'll certainly ask you your budget so tell them the total cost and let them see what they can do. They'll have heard it before and will know ways to suggest cheaper alternatives.

How about a wedding cake that would work as dessert - e.g. a chocolate one that you get them to serve up with cream, or even tiers of cheesecakes?

Btw re the tasting, our's costs £10 each, and when I asked about it on here, most people had been charged - I think one couples was £30 each!

EDIT: GB's advice is really good as well I think - totally agree about the bedrooms, but I presume you're negotiating the price on those on behalf of the guests.

Woth regards to the cake - we're serving our wedding cake as "dessert" which is coming out with the coffees.

Starter - Main - Cheese - Coffee & Cake

I'be been to many weddings where i've never seen the cake to eat which is a waste of money in my opinion so decided on this option ?

I found that when it helps to have a budget for each item in your head then when you are given a price over that it's easy to say 'to be honest our budget for x is £y, is there anything you can do?'. I've found that's worked quite well with most places where it's been needed!

WRT the tasting, we are paying full price but it's BOGOF so we can take as many people as we want and it's essentially half the price it will be on the day for 3 courses and wine ?

Thanks for all of your replies. I think I worded part of message wrong as we're in a position to pay for people's rooms (I wish I had that kind of money!!!) I was negotiating on their behalf as I had a worry that they wouldn't necessarily stay for breakfast which I think would be nice. I've told my sisters I would try & get it included, possibly by saying would they include it if I manage to fill all the rooms. Worth a shot.

I like both ideas for either having canapes in place of a starter or serve the cake as the dessert. Will have to talk to the venue about those as in our contract it states that we have to have at least 60 guests eating a 3 course meal.

I will definetely share our budget with them and hope we can work towards it.

Thanks again ?

How'd it go Blackkat?? Any luck on making some reductions to the budget?

Not very sucessful No reductions on food but the woman we spoke to wasn't the main 1 so we're waiting for her to get back to us on what we can get as regards to drinks and nibbles between the ceremony & wedding breakfast.